Computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and systems for management and control of a loyalty rewards network

Abstract

Machines, computer program products, and computer-implemented methods to manage and control a loyalty rewards network and to provide customer loyalty rewards to a customer for purchasing goods or services. Computer program product can determine if a customer is one of the plurality of member customers enrolled in the loyalty rewards network. If the customer is not a member, the computer program product can enroll the customer in the loyalty rewards network. As a purchase are made by member customers thereafter, the member customer swipes or otherwise enters a loyalty reward card number and the computer accumulates and stores loyalty rewards network data representative of the member customer's purchasing behavior. Upon accumulating sufficient loyalty rewards pursuant to collection parameters, the member customers can select one or more of the available loyalty reward actions and the computer program product can implement the selected one or more loyalty rewards action.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A machine for managing a loyalty rewards network through an existing financial services electronic payment network, the machine comprising:
 a processor computer having a non-transitory computer memory and a processor operable thereon, the processor computer associated with and in communication with a financial services network;   a computer program product, stored in the non-transitory computer memory and operable by the processor computer, the computer program product performing a process of enrolling a customer in a loyalty rewards network, and a process of transmitting a loyalty rewards to the member customer, the computer program product comprising the instructions of:
 associating the customer with a loyalty rewards card account, the loyalty rewards card account having a unique loyalty rewards identifier associated with the customer; 
 associating at least one merchant with loyalty rewards and loyalty rewards criteria, the loyalty rewards criteria associated with customer purchase data required to generate loyalty rewards; 
 determining an availability of loyalty rewards for the customer responsive to receiving, via the financial services electronic payment network, the electronic loyalty rewards identifier associated with the customer and customer purchase data, the availability of loyalty reward being determined using the loyalty rewards criteria; 
 crediting the loyalty rewards card account with the loyalty responsive to the determination that loyalty rewards are available; and 
 implementing one or more selected loyalty rewards actions responsive to electronically receiving instructions from the customer to redeem loyalty rewards. 
   
     
     
         22 . A machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the customer purchase data includes one or more of the following data items: merchant category code, merchant identification number, standard industrial classification, terminal identification number, date purchased, time-of-day purchased, and dollar value of purchase. 
     
     
         23 . A machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the computer program product further comprises the instruction of:
 settling a financial transaction at the merchant after transmitting the loyalty rewards to the customer.   
     
     
         24 . A machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the customer is issued a loyalty rewards network card, the loyalty rewards identifier being stored on the loyalty rewards network card and the loyalty rewards network card being used to interact with the processor computer. 
     
     
         25 . A machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the one or more loyalty rewards actions includes: issuing a gift card, applying a payment to a participating merchant in the loyalty rewards network, applying payment to a loyalty rewards network sponsor, applying payment to a card distribution partner of the loyalty rewards network, or applying payment to the one or more purchases. 
     
     
         26 . A machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the customer purchase data originates with a point of sale terminal connected to the processor computer via the financial services electronic payment network, the point of sale terminal being positioned to receive data from a customer card account database accessible by the processor computer. 
     
     
         27 . A machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the machine is adapted so that a customer can access its loyalty rewards network account using a personal computer connected to the financial services network. 
     
     
         28 . A computer program product, stored in a non-transitory computer memory of a processor computer and operable by thereon, the computer program product performing a process of enrolling a customer in a loyalty rewards network, and a process of transmitting loyalty rewards to the member customer over a financial services electronic payment network, the computer program product comprising the instructions of:
 associating the customer with a loyalty rewards card account, the loyalty rewards card account having a loyalty rewards identifier associated with the customer;   associating at least one merchant with loyalty rewards and loyalty rewards criteria, the loyalty rewards criteria associated with customer purchase data required to generate loyalty rewards at the at least one merchant;   determining an availability of loyalty rewards for the customer responsive to receiving, via the financial services electronic payment network, the electronic loyalty rewards identifier associated with the customer and customer purchase data, the availability of loyalty reward being determined using the loyalty rewards criteria;   crediting the loyalty rewards card account with the loyalty rewards at the at least one merchant responsive to the determination that loyalty rewards are available; and   implementing one or more selected loyalty rewards actions responsive to electronically receiving instructions from the customer to redeem loyalty rewards.   
     
     
         29 . A computer program product according to  claim 28 , wherein the customer purchase data received by the computer includes one or more of the following data items: merchant category code, merchant identification number, standard industrial classification, terminal identification number, date purchased, time-of-day purchased, dollar value of purchase, and a loyalty rewards network card number associated with the member customer. 
     
     
         30 . A computer program product according to  claim 28 , wherein the computer program product further comprises the instruction of:
 settling a financial transaction at the merchant after transmitting the loyalty rewards to the customer.   
     
     
         31 . A computer program product according to  claim 28 , wherein the customer is issued a loyalty rewards network card, the loyalty rewards identifier being stored on the loyalty rewards network card and the loyalty rewards network card being used to interact with the processor computer. 
     
     
         32 . A computer program product according to  claim 28 , wherein the one or more loyalty rewards actions includes: issuing a gift card, applying a payment to a participating merchant in the loyalty rewards network, applying payment to a loyalty rewards network sponsor, applying payment to a card distribution partner of the loyalty rewards network, or applying payment to the one or more purchases. 
     
     
         33 . A computer program product according to  claim 28 , wherein the customer purchase data originates with a point of sale terminal connected to the processor computer via the financial services electronic payment network, the point of sale terminal being positioned to receive data from a customer card account database accessible by the processor computer. 
     
     
         34 . A computer program product according to  claim 28 , wherein the computer program is adapted so that a customer can access its loyalty rewards network account using a personal computer connected to the financial services network. 
     
     
         35 . A computer-implemented method to cause a processor computer to perform a process of enrolling a customer in a loyalty rewards network, and a process of transmitting loyalty rewards to the member customer over a financial services electronic payment network, the computer implemented method comprising the instructions of:
 associating the customer with a loyalty rewards card account, the loyalty rewards card account having a unique loyalty rewards identifier associated with the customer;   associating at least one merchant with loyalty rewards and loyalty rewards criteria, the loyalty rewards criteria associated with customer purchase data required to generate loyalty rewards at the at least one merchant;   determining an availability of loyalty rewards for the customer responsive to receiving, via the financial services electronic payment network, the electronic loyalty rewards identifier associated with the customer and customer purchase data, the availability of loyalty reward being determined using the loyalty rewards criteria;   crediting the loyalty rewards card account with the loyalty rewards at the at least one merchant responsive to the determination that loyalty rewards are available; and   implementing one or more selected loyalty rewards actions responsive to electronically receiving instructions from the customer to redeem loyalty rewards.   
     
     
         36 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 35 , wherein the customer purchase data received by the computer includes one or more of the following data items: merchant category code, merchant identification number, standard industrial classification, terminal identification number, date purchased, time-of-day purchased, dollar value of purchase, and a loyalty rewards network card number associated with the member customer. 
     
     
         37 . A computer implemented method according to  claim 35 , wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises the instruction of:
 settling a financial transaction at the merchant after transmitting the loyalty rewards to the customer.   
     
     
         38 . A computer implemented method according to  claim 35 , wherein the customer is issued a unique loyalty rewards network card, the unique loyalty rewards identifier being stored on the unique loyalty rewards network card and the loyalty rewards network card being used to interact with the processor computer. 
     
     
         39 . A computer implemented method according to  claim 35 , wherein the one or more loyalty rewards actions includes: issuing a gift card, applying a payment to a participating merchant in the loyalty rewards network, applying payment to a loyalty rewards network sponsor, applying payment to a card distribution partner of the loyalty rewards network, or applying payment to the one or more purchases. 
     
     
         40 . A computer implemented method according to  claim 35 , wherein the customer purchase data originates with a point of sale terminal connected to the processor computer via the financial services electronic payment network, the point of sale terminal being positioned to receive data from a customer card account database accessible by the processor computer.